250 RECENT ARCHJEOLOGIOAIi DISCOVERIES IN CORNWALL. 



eastern end of Hadrian's Wall, was called Pons iElius or iElii, 

 just as Jerusalem was named iElia after its restoration by the 

 same Emperor, ^Elius Hadrianus. 



But the name iElius is so well known, in a variety of con- 

 nections, that we need not dwell further upon it. 



We are unaware whether any Tungrian cohort was ever 

 stationed in Cornwall, and therefore we cannot assert that iElius 

 Modestus, once at Bossens camp, was the same as Publius JElius 

 Modestus the Roman officer who held a command in the north 

 at some other time. Modestus (the Modest), as Borlase as shewn, 

 is a surname often met with, and I have observed it in many 

 inscriptions ; for instance on a copper tablet,* discovered at 

 Malpas in Cheshire, and now in the British Museum, inscribed 

 with Trajan's declaration of privileges to certain members of 

 the army ; — one of the officers mentioned being Modestus, 

 another Vitalis, &e. 



We must now add a few words about the dedication of the 

 bowl. Of course no deities were more likely than Mars and 

 Hercules to be found mentioned with honor in the Roman 

 military stations. 



Mars was especially the Roman warrior's patron ; not 

 only was he regarded as the ruling spirit of sanguinary 

 encounter, but next to Jove, the king of heaven, he enjoyed the 

 highest honors at Rome. He was designated Fatherf Mars 

 because the B.oraans considered him the progenitor of their nation. 

 They believed that Romulus, the reputed founder of their city, 

 was his son. As Gradivus, Quirinus, and Silvanus, he was 

 worshipped as patron of military prowess, of citizenship), and of 

 the honorable pursuit of agriculture. He was guardian of men 

 and of cattle. The priests of this valiant deity danced in full 

 armour, in the place called after him Campus Martius. He had 

 various titles besides Pater, Genitor, &c, such as Bellicus 

 Cruentus, Durus, Ferus, Ferox, Pacifer, Torvus, Ultor, Yictor. 

 "Per Martem" was a soldier's oath, and Rome itself was "Urbs 

 Mavortis." 



*Hubner, No. 1193. 



f Jove's name compounded with Pater became Jupiter, similarly that of 

 Mavors, Mavers, or Mars, compounded with Pater became Maspiter. 



